Mushroom, bacon & egg Caesar salad

This is a stunning side dish for a braai, but can easily be served as a lunch of its own. The cheat’s dressing is easy to make and requires no special equipment.

Ingredients

For 4

You will need...

1/4 cup (60 ml) olive oil
4 teaspoons (20 ml) lemon juice or white vinegar
1/2 garlic clove, finely grated
2 teaspoons (10 ml) Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons (30 ml) finely grated parmesan cheese (plus more for serving)
30 ml thick mayonnaise
1-2 anchovy fillets, finely chopped
salt & pepper
30 ml olive oil
250 g portabellini mushrooms, halved
125 g streaky bacon
4 XL eggs
1 cup store-bought croutons (optional)
2-3 heads of baby gem lettuce or romaine lettuce, separated and rinsed

Mushroom, bacon & egg Caesar salad Method

For the dressing: in a medium mixing bowl, add the olive oil, lemon juice/vinegar and use a fork or hand whisk to mix well. Add the garlic, mustard, parmesan, mayonnaise and anchovy. Season with salt & pepper and mix to creamy dressing. Set aside.
Heat the oil in a large wide pan and fry the mushrooms until cooked & golden. Season with salt & pepper and set aside.
In a large non-stick pan, fry the bacon until crispy, then drain on kitchen paper. Cut into fine strips.
Boil the eggs for 7 minutes in water, then transfer to a bowl of cold water to cool. Peel and slice in half, then set aside.
To assemble: Toss the lettuce with half the dressing, then arrange the leaves on a platter. Top with the mushrooms, bacon, eggs and croutons. Top with more parmesan cheese and serve at once.